Here is the thing - Windows 8, under the hood, is a fucking rock solid, fast OS. The Metro interface is what kills it for most people. Once I installed Start8, got my file associations off of the default Metro apps and to regular desktop apps, I am rather enjoying it.

Ive actually ditched using TeraCopy for copying files on Windows 8 because they finally fixed the ancient file copy program that they were using, and the Win8 Fast Boot with SSD makes UEFI to Desktop around 5-7 seconds.

Only issue I've had to deal with is the same issues I had to deal with on 7, which is you may have to disable DPI scaling on many games. But I also run 150% font scale so if you never mess with this, you'll likely never experience the problem.

People based most of their opinions off the windows 8 BETA. BETA obviouly isnt the finished project and there were many issues(as with any unfinished product). Other people just hear other people say windows 8 is bad and just repeat things they hear.

People hate Windows 8 because it makes mouse and keyboard users jump through a bunch of hoops designed for touch screen users to accomplish the same tasks that could be done significantly quicker with Windows 7.

It also ties Microsoft's Store to the OS, essentially punishing developers for not allowing Microsoft a portion of their earnings AND submitting to using their god-awful Windows 8 interface and their proprietary programming APIs, effectively making you Steve Balmer's bitch.

Note that I have Windows 8.1, eliminating that avenue of an ad hominem response.

A lot of apps that are available for both Metro and the desktop hide or do away completely with essential functionality. Take Internet Explorer, for example, changing tabs is a swipe down from the top of the screen. Simply inefficient with the precision of a mouse. Now think about changing some silly Internet Explorer option in the metro app, a swipe from side. Simply inefficient with the precision of a mouse.

Now think of quickly switching between applications on Windows 8, let's say you're writing a chemistry paper for university or some such: You have Calculator, Music, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Word open at the same time. Change a song, swipe from the left, perform an equation on the calculator, swipe from the left, double-check your work online, swipe from the left, write some observation about your results in word, swipe from the left, make sure that you recorded the right number, swipe from the left.

Now, my friend, imagine doing all that shit with the glory of the taskbar. The taskbar is always open, no swiping required. The glorious window manager can hold multiple apps at a time, no need to waste your 32 inch 1440p monitor with just one (or two) apps at a time. Feel GabeN's glory, feel productivity, feel what it means to be a disciple of the almighty GabeN.

8.1 adds more options to dock metro apps to various areas of the screen. But yeah, it's not designed for desktop productivity, which is the task you're describing. It's designed for media consumption, which is what the vast majority of peasants are doing.

I tried windows 8.1 for a week, ended up back to 7, the metro ui and chime crap was just too hard to exterminate. I changed all the default file extensions and I would still occasionally be interrupted with the metro ui.

Then i had issues with not having administrative privileges for moving just simple files around. Had to find registry hacks to change my files to non read only so i could copy them and then delete them. Had to change each chime program to a different default program so it wouldn't take me off to that metro ui garb.

Then i had the issue of the windows 8 start bar covering all my monitors, which I use one as a TV for media. While watching shows off my pc the bar would show up over the movie. No way to remove it. (that I found within windows)

I also had issues with the non active window colour being fucking white/grey colour and you cannot change it with out changing your theme to that fluro crap.

Dunno how anyone could like windows 8.1. Didn't even notice any performance and im the type of person to instantly know when my monitor is at 60hz and not 120. So it must be so minimal its not even worth worrying about. The two issues with windows 7 are nothing compared to the 10 issues with windows 8.1 after just one week. AVOID.

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